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Could bamboo stands cause panda-monium?

Setting up an exhibition stand made of sustainable bamboo might be risky

So the Tank is once again late with its increasingly erroneously named 'regular' column. We'd love to say that we were engaged in other important matters, but to tell you the truth, the paper supply we use for our missives has all but dried up now Fishcotheque has stuck a recycling bin out front for chip wrappers.

But it turns out ropey-named fast food outlets are by no means the only major businesses buying into this sustainability lark, especially when it comes to pushing the brand. Some are even going beyond carving "Fish - £3.60" into the railway arches to save on paper menus, by advertising their wares at trade shows in sustainable bamboo display units.

That's right, as anyone who's seen Rush Hour 2 will be aware, bamboo is not only strong enough to support both Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker, it also grows on marginal land with little or no fertilisers and takes just three to four years to grow high enough to be harvested - making it greener than aluminium, steel, most woods, and well anything else you're likely to build a trade show booth out of.

"As a business ourselves we understand the importance of being environmentally friendly and reducing our carbon footprint," said Mark Thompson, sales director of exhibition stand company PrintDesigns. "That's why we took 20 months developing this bamboo banner stand, a sustainable and greener option for commercial companies. We have created a unique product that is cost-effective, durable and attractive whilst additionally reducing environmental impact."

All of which sounds great. But the tank can't help wondering if purchasing such a stand would leave a company exposed to ravenous giant pandas, intent on devouring the structure because a cookie at the ExCeL centre costs the best part of a fiver.

And for those of you insisting you've never seen a panda at a conference - clearly you're going to the wrong events.